This'll probably sound ridiculous but I just told him everything. I mean, not everything everything. Not the stuff about him reminding me of my dad, but all of the stuff that was relevant to this school, my brothers, LeBeau, even Herr Lensherr. I blame the shock, and I was definitely in shock. It was as bad as the time when the police came round to see me when I was in hospital - and on that occasion me and Ollie got taken into care…

Anyway, I told him everything, and instead of running off and reporting on me he agreed to help me meet up with Mick and Sean this evening. I got the text while we were talking. We're meeting at a little place called O'Sullivan's - that must have been Mick's choice, there's no way Sean would go to a faux Irish Pub out of choice. Anyway, that's where we're headed right now. Fuzz turns out to be Logan (to which we will append a Mister, since he's entitled himself to respect in my book) and he's in the driving seat.

"How you gonna get back?" Mister Logan asks. I'm staring out at the road, blank eyed. So tired I can't think any more. When the fuck will today be over. I just want to STOP! I didn't even finish that sodding marking.

I shrug. "Dunno, hitch. Mick'll probably give us a lift if I ask."

"So ask," he says like it's always that simple. I shrug one shoulder this time. I'm shy after all that sharing and I'm feeling more than a little defensive. It's just possible I'm letting a whole bunch of people down, and I'm too exhausted to figure all of this out. And I still have planning to do for tomorrow. Christ. Can I really be arsed with this. I could just go home. I don't even have a contract yet. I could go and work in the pub in Wales and forget all about that stupid idea that was teaching. I should have stuck with washing glasses and baby-sitting. It was more my speed.

I put my fingers to my forehead and sigh. Mister Logan doesn't even glance round. "Put your face on," I think to myself. "Get through this and you can sleep until six-thirty tomorrow. That's practically a lie-in. Get through this and you can have a lie-in."

"Get a lift back," Mister Logan says as I climb out of the car. I give him a big bright fake smile.

"Of course," I say. "No problem." I slam the car door. I suppose it's possible he was fooled. Unlikely, but possible. More likely he either doesn't give a shit or wouldn't know what to do about it even if he did.

"Get it together, Jay," I mutter to myself. "Sean's in there…" That makes me smile again. Sean and Mick in the same place at the same time. Should be, um, interesting.